Knee problems limited Hideki Matsui to DH with the Yankees. But he hopes to play some outfield with the Angels this season. AP PHOTO

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Angels are used to having a DH who comes with a 'Handle With Care' warning label.

In recent seasons, they had a challenging juggling act, balancing their need to have Vladimir Guerrero in the lineup with his prideful insistence that he was still a complete player who could play the outfield regularly.

As his production declined and his body broke down more frequently in the past two years, Guerrero's DH time increased to the point that he started 94 games at DH in 2009 and just two in the outfield – leaving the second one with a leg injury.

The Angels parted ways with Guerrero this winter and replaced him with – a 35-year-old with arthritic knees who still wants to play in the field.

Even as he was admitting his knees "aren't 100 percent" as spring training begins, Hideki Matsui arrived in camp with his sights set on playing more outfield than he did for the Yankees last season – when he played none.

"I've been working toward getting back on the field with the strong belief that I will play defense," Matsui said through his interpreter this week. "Hopefully, that will work out."

Matsui's desire to play defense at least occasionally in 2010 was a topic of conversation as he was negotiating his one-year, $6 million deal with the team in December. Their willingness to at least consider the possibility was a factor in his decision to sign with the team.

From the Angels' point of view, it is worth considering. They have little depth behind veteran outfielders Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera – the oldest position on this year's team.

If Matsui is unable to play in the field, Angels manager Mike Scioscia would not be able to use the DH spot to rest those other outfielders – particularly Bobby Abreu who will turn 36 next month and slumped in the second half last season.

"Versatility breeds depth," Scioscia said. "If we're more versatile, we're going to be a deeper team. So if Hideki is able to play the outfield on a limited basis, it's going to give us a lot more depth to rest guys. Or if guys are out for awhile, we'll be able to keep an offensive team on the field.

"It's something we'll explore. But we need him swinging the bat first and foremost."

Matsui's offensive value is evident. In seven seasons with the Yankees, he hit .292 with a .370 on-base percentage and .482 slugging percentage while averaging 20 home runs and 85 RBI per season despite losing extensive time to injuries in 2006 (a fractured wrist) and 2008 (knee).

But he hasn't played the field regularly since 2007 when he made 111 starts in left. He made just 22 outfield starts in 2008 when his knee problems became an issue. He had surgery on his right knee in Sept. 2007 then on his left knee in Nov. 2008. Twice last season (in April and August), he needed to have fluid drained from his knees despite the fact that he didn't play a single inning in the field all season.

The Angels will "absolutely" proceed with caution if they are going to explore Matsui's defensive potential this spring, Scioscia said, and "tailor" his spring program accordingly.

"I think what we'll do with Hideki is what we did with Vlad or someone coming off surgery, someone maybe having a history of some issues," Scioscia said. "The first step is to get him in some drills and see how he responds.

"We need him swinging the bat, first and foremost. If he goes through drills one day and he can't rebound and do what he needs to do the next day, I think some of those questions are going to be answered for you very quickly."

NOTES

Heavy rains overnight and intermittent showers Sunday morning left the fields in Tempe soggy and forced the Angels to scale back their workout. ... Left-hander Scott Kazmir threw off a mound during Sunday's workout, his first bullpen session of the spring. Kazmir had been limited by a sore hamstring and then a high fever and sore throat during the first four days of camp. Kazmir said the fever lasted just one day and he had nothing but a slight lingering sore throat by Sunday. ... Position players are expected to report Monday with the first full-squad workout on Tuesday. Scioscia said he doesn't anticipate any late arrivals.

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